Expectations could not be higher for the New Orleans Saints this year. They’re a popular favorite to compete for Super Bowl LV, winning their second Lombardi Trophy in what may be their final year with Drew Brees at quarterback.
And that’s reflected in the latest NFL power rankings. The Saints trail just two other teams, and they both play in the AFC — the reigning-champ Kansas City Chiefs and the runner-up Baltimore Ravens. Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports ranked New Orleans at No. 3 on his first power rankings of the 2020 regular season.
Let’s take a quick trip around the NFC to see where the Saints’ competition placed: the San Francisco 49ers are next-best at No. 4, while this week’s opponent, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rank just behind at No. 8. The Green Bay Packers have fallen to No. 9 after their forgettable playoff run back in January.
A handful of fringe playoff teams are hoping to crack the top ten: the Dallas Cowboys (No. 11), Seattle Seahawks (No. 12), Atlanta Falcons (No. 13), and Minnesota Vikings (No. 14), with the final NFC South squad stuck near the bottom (the Carolina Panthers, at No. 30).
